Edward Griswold
1814-Dec. 4, 1892

Niles Republican, Thursday, December 8, 1892, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

SUDDEN DEATH

OF ONE OF THE OLDEST RESIDENTS OF NILES

Edward Griswold Found Dead in a Wood-Shed, Heart Failure the Cause of His Death.

From Thursday's Sun.

Shortly before 10 o'clock this morning, G.W. Boone, a painter working at the residence of F.S. Retan, on Fourth street, went out back of the house and discovered an old gray haired man lying face downward on a pile of kindling in the woodshed.  Approaching the man he found it to be Edward Griswold.

A hasty examination satisfied Mr. Boone that life was extinct and he immediately came down town and notified Coroner Barron and a few others who hurried to the spot where the old man lay, as was stated above, on a pile of kindling on his face, his right arm under him with his friendly old pipe still in his hand; the left arm was wedged down by his side against a post which supported the shed roof; his hat lay to the right of him less than two feet away.

As soon as a place at his home was prepared his body was carried into the . . .[illegible] . .

hours before apparently as well as usual. He asked Mrs. J.E. French about 8 o'clock for the kindling wood they had left under the shed and she gave it to him. He notified his folks at home of this fact and said he was going to carry it over into his yard.  He had carried two or three loads before his death, which is supposed to have resulted from heart failure. There was no sign of any struggle and to all appearances he had attempted to grasp the post for support, when everything before him turned black. He fell with his face on the kindling, but fortunately missed the many nails that were sticking up, and his face was not bruised in the least.

It is remembered by old settlers that Mr. G's father was a bee hunter, and was found dead on one of these tours.  He died of heart disease, and this, his last son, so says the physician, met death the same way.

A coronor's jury was called at 2 o'clock this afternoon, and after a very short deliberation gave the verdict to Justice Barron that "Edward Griswold met death by heart disease."

Mr. Griswold is the last of a family of five boys and two girls who came here with their father, Eber, in 1829, and in his early days he had become accustomed to speaking Indian dialects.

Rosalie Minnear
1867-March 5, 1939

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 16, 1939, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. W.H. Minnear Dies at Rural Home; Service Saturday

. . .[Illegible] , , , Minnear, who had lived on a farm five miles north of Niles on US-31 intermittently the last 18 years, died there at 10:30 Wednesday night after a year's illness.

She was born in Buffalo, N.Y., and came to Berrien county from Iron Mountain, Mich.

Survivors are the husband, W.H. Minnear, whom she married April 15, 1899, in Hancock, Mich.; a son, Earl, at home, and a niece, Mrs. Katherine Clark, Niles.

The body was brought to the Price and Kiger funeral home, but friends may call at the Minnear home from Friday afternoon until the service there at 2 Saturday afternoon.

Mrs. Mabel Bennett, Iron Mountain, Chhristian Science reader, will officiate. Burial will be in the Silverbrook mausoleum.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 17, 1939, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

MINNEAR RITES

Funeral services for Mrs. Rosalie O. Minnear, who died Wednesday night in her home five miles north of Niles, will be held at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon in the Minnear home. Mrs. Mabel Bennett, Iron Mountain, Christian Science reader, will officiate. Interment will be in the Silverbrook mausoleum.

Augusta Louisa Lacey
1833-April 3, 1892

Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, April 5, 1892, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of Mrs. Granville Lacey

Mrs. Augusta, wife of Granville Lacey, died in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday morning, April 3, 1892, of heart disease, in her 60th year.

For twenty years Mrs. Lacey had been an invalid, her health and strength gradually giving away during all this time.

In the early part of the winter Mrs. Lacey, accompanied by her two faithful and loving daughters, Misses May and Edith, went to Los Angeles, in the hope that the mild climate of Southern California might give some relief, and where she might also have the benefit of the medical services of her long-time physician, Dr. M.N. Avery, now of Los Angeles, and of her brother, Dr. Wm. B. May, an eminent physician of San Francisco. Unfortunately, however, human skill was unavailing.  For some weeks her husband has been in receipt of letters and telegrams of a very discouraging tenor, and yesterday evening at 7:30 o'clock a telegram was received announcing that her death occurred on Sunday morning.

Augusta L. May was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Her parents came to Michigan in her early childhood and settled in St. Joseph county.  On the 12th of June, 1855, at White Pigeon, she was united in marriage to Granville Lacey, and since that time, with the exception of about five years' residence in Buffalo and Cleveland, they have resided in this city.

Mrs. Lacey was a firm believer in the religion of Christ, and was a communicant in the Trinity Episcopal church. She had many friends who will sincerely mourn her death, and these friends are of those who knew her most intimately and had the best opportunity to know of her good traits of character.

Margaret Barnes, 85
July 1, 1925 — May 28, 2011

Margaret Louise Barnes, 85, of Niles, passed away at Lakeland Hospital in Niles with her family by her side.

Margaret Barnes, 85

Margaret was born on July 1, 1925 to the late Howard and Ida (Tucker) Orrick in Manchester, Tenn. She was the eldest of two growing up in the Orrick household.

After graduating from high school Margaret wed the love of her life, Lloyd Barnes, at a ceremony in Niles on Sept. 7, 1946. Together they had two wonderful children, Gale and Steven.

Margaret owned and operated Louisa’s Beauty Salon for 13 years. After she retired Margaret couldn’t sit idle, she worked as a clerk for J.C. Penney’s until her retirement 14 years later.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Margaret is survived by her husband of nearly 65 years, Lloyd; children Gale (Lawrence) Deitrich of Niles and Steven Barnes of Niles; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; brother, James (Inez) Orrick of McMinnville, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made in Margaret’s memory to the Niles American Legion where she frequently attended with her husband.

In keeping with Margaret’s wishes the family has held a private family burial at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family on our website at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home of Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 6:26pm Monday, May 30, 2011

Steven Cox, 54
Oct. 8, 1956 — April 1, 2011

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:47pm Monday, April 4, 2011

Steven Wesley Cox, 54, of Niles, passed away unexpectedly at his home Friday, April 1, 2011.

Steve was born Oct. 8, 1956 to the late Frank and Theresa (Regness) Cox in Niles. He was one of eight children growing up in the Cox household.

After high school in 1974, Steve joined the United States Army, where he proudly served his country. In recent years, Steve enjoyed spending time playing cards at home, an occasional trip to the casino, gardening, reflecting on his travels across the U.S. and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jason Cox; and brothers, Frankie Jay and John L.

He is survived by his children, Wesley (Libbie) Cox of South Bend, Brad (Angela) Cox of Niles, Aaron (Tara) Cox of Chicago; four grandchildren, Ryan, Bradley, Logan and Kaitlyn; siblings, Sue Toth of Niles, Brenda Hammond of Niles, Jeanie McLain of Niles, Mike Cox of Niles, Danny Cox of South Bend; and many family and friends.

Funeral services to honor Steve’s life will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Niles.
Visitation hours for family and friends will be held Wednesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wesley or Aaron to assist with final arrangements.

Those wishing to leave condolences can upload a photo of Steve or write a message to the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home of Niles.

Lucille Burge, 93
April 18, 1918 — April 29, 2011

Lucille Elizabeth Burge, 93, of Niles, passed away at Lakeland Hospital in Niles on Friday, April 29, 2011.

Lucille was born on April 18, 1918 to the late Joseph and Cecile (Rutherford) Lieber in Dowagiac. She was one of four children growing up in the Lieber household.

In 1936 Lucille graduated from Dowagiac Union High School and in 1940 wed the love of her life, Donald R. Burge.  Together they had three sons. Don passed away in 1979.

Lucille was the co-owner of Don’s Hardware in Niles, where she operated it with her husband on a day-to-day basis.  Lucille was always keeping busy and was a proud life member and past president of the Niles Music Club, life member of the Order of the Eastern Star, member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles and was the last original member of the H.C. Club in Dowagiac that she helped start in 1936.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Don; and brothers, Paul and Gordon Lieber.

Lucille is survived by her children, William (Diana) Burge of Niles, Thomas (Nancy) Burge of Paw Paw, Stephen (Barbara) Burge of Niles; grandchildren, Eric (Lynn) Burge, Bethany (Wesley) Foust, Rebecca (Kyle) Digby, Tara Versluis, great-grandchildren, Brittany Foust, Hudson and Anikah Burge, Aiden and Bree Digby and Noah and Isabelle Versluis and sister, Warrene Springsteen of Dowagiac.

Funeral services to honor Lucille’s long life will be held Wednesday, May 4 at Brown Funeral Home in Niles at 11 a.m. with a time of visitation on Tuesday from 4 from 7 p.m., also at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made in Lucille’s memory to Meals on Wheels or the Niles District Library.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home of Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 11:50pm Monday, May 2, 2011